The Most Scenic Routes in America: Summer Edition

Sometimes, you need to get away.  Work is exhausting, your favorite TV sitcoms have gone off the air, and it’s time to break the mold.  Imagine breathing in the cool breeze of an ocean, or the soothing heat of a morning sun while taking a trip down the countryside.  Road trips are a great way to embrace the open road to view what our beautiful country has to offer.  So, you have the keys, a bag of snacks, and a couple days to check out your surroundings, but where do you go?  In today’s blog, we’re discussing some great scenic places to visit while you travel. 

Overseas Highway – Florida Keys

A highway that spans 113 miles, composed of roads and bridges from the Florida mainland to the country’s most southern point, the Overseas Highway is a beautiful place to drive.  There’s blue ocean, ships, boats, fisherman and tourists at every turn.  As an added fact, the Florida East Coast Railway was converted into this awesome highway.

Finger Lakes Region – New York

The Finger Lakes are a chain of lakes in central New York State shaped like…well, uh…fingers with the lakes formed by glaciers.  The lake extends 75 miles from Syracuse to Rochester.  There’s farmland, quaint towns and hundreds of wineries.  An Autumn trip adds an accentuating foliage to a beautiful drive year around. 

Pacific Coast Highway – California

This is known as one of the most scenic views in the world.  Hugging cliffs, and coastlines line a 123 mile stretch in a blissful five hour dream of beauty and saltwater scents.  However, this is not for the faint at heart.  The PCH offers some hairpin turns, narrow shoulders and steep drop-offs so BE ALERT. Honestly, take some time to pull over in safe places to really enjoy the vista. 

San Juan Skyway – Colorado

This scenic 233-mile drive through San Juan National Forest, Grand Mesa, is known as the “road to the sky” because of its mountains, quaint towns and ancient Native American pueblo ruins.  The drive features steep cliffs, alpine forests, campgrounds and plenty of outdoor activities.  

How to Avoid Hydroplaning

 One of the scariest experiences as a driver can be hydroplaning.  Hydroplaning, which is the common term used to refer to the skidding or sliding of a car’s tires across a wet surface, can prove worrisome during a rainstorm.  At the dealership, one of our main priorities is to make sure your vehicle is safe.  So, in today’s blog, we’ll provide some tips on how hydroplaning occurs and what you can do to stop it. 

Hydroplaning happens when a tire encounters more water than it can scatter.  In other words, there’s a pressure of water in the front of the wheel that pushes water underneath the tire.  If too much water is pushed under the tire it can create a thin film of water, causing the tire to lose traction and you, the driver, to lose control over the vehicle’s actions.  The result is a loss of steering, braking and power control.  Many tires have grooves that channel water and prevent too much getting under the tire. 

The most dangerous time to become a victim of hydroplaning is during the first ten minutes of rain.  Why?  This is the moment in time when light rain mixes with oil residue on the roads surface, creating slippery conditions that can cause vehicles driving over 35 mph to hydroplane.  These conditions can be dangerous for drivers and surrounding motorists. 

How to Avoid Hydroplaining:

1.    Turn off cruise control

2.    Avoid sharp/quick turns

3.    Drive in a lower gear

4.    Avoid lanes that have deep puddles of water

5.    SLOW DOWN

6.    Rotate and replace your tires (we can take care of this)

7.    Avoid hard braking

By following these tips, you should be able to avoid the worst part of hydroplaning.  If you have any tips to add, feel free to comment below!

How to Maintain Great Driving Posture

Millions of Americans suffer from muscle pain and tension from stress, work, and long distance driving.  Watching a coworker roll their neck is common in the workplace. The simple issue of not moving causes muscles to shorten and tighten over time, causing pain.  Another reason for bad posture is that most individuals’ drive with the right leg and hip externally rotated with the knee slightly bent. In this position, mild nerve root irritation in the lower back can cause pain to follow in the hip, knee and foot.  How do you remedy the situation?  There are a couple of ways:

·      Rotate the hip slightly inwards, causing your leg to be more in line with your body.  Try this strategy on a long trip and you should get some relief.

·      Change positions slightly during the trip.  Variations in your seating position can help blood flow.

·      Adjust seat accordingly because damage to the spine can occur when you fail to adjust the seat correctly.  Slouching behind the wheel on frequent trips or for long periods of time can cause back and spinal pain.  Long term stress to the joints and muscles in the lower area of the spine, stretching your legs to reach the pedals or muscle fatigue can all be factors.

So, what IS the right position?  Follow these steps to practicing GREAT driving posture:

·      Firm Car Seat – adjusts to your body shape with firm contact

·      130% Knee Angle – should be maintained.  You shouldn’t have to overstretch your legs to operate the pedals.

·      Upright or Slightly Reclining Position – is ideal.  It causes less stress on the back and reduces the effects of vibration.

·      Automatic Vehicles – If you already have existing back problems, an automatic car would cause less stress on the spine than a manual vehicle.

·      Adjusted Steering Wheel – Choose the correct height and reach that provides optimum flexibility.

·      Headrest Properly Positioned – the top of the head restraint should be level with the top of the driver’s head or at least no lower than eye level to prevent whiplash injuries.

Have any to add? Feel free in the comment section below! 

Smartphone App of the Week: Driver’s Ed

We understand that it might seem peculiar that we would talk about a smartphone app called Driver’s Ed, as we want new driver’s (and experienced alike) to drive safely with their eyes focused on the road and not on the screen of a smartphone, but this app is strictly for NON-DRIVING USE.  And quite frankly, it’s an awesome way to learn the ways of the road…off-road, of course.

As parents, friends, and colleagues we instill the fundamentals of driving: look back when you reverse, buckle your seatbelt, etc…this smartphone app is a study guide for individuals preparing to take the permit test for their license.  The app is currently FREE and brought to you by a leader in online drivers education with full-featured study companions and quizzes from a database of more than 350 questions. 

The app records your results so that you can track your progress and review incorrect answers.  Get to know the material by taking tests and perfecting your driving skills before you take the real thing. 

Flash cards are also an added feature that allows test takers to study the material fairly quickly.  Driver’s Ed even lets you download your state’s specific Driver Manual so you can study on the go.  Driver’s Ed is a great app for studying for the permit exam because there’s nothing like having another safe driver on the road. 

Download it here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/drivers-ed/id297942237?mt=8

The Top Car Technologies Voted By Car Buyers

A J.D. Power Report discussed car buyers’ favorite technological advances when it comes to their vehicles.  We all play victim to the vast power and influence of electronics.  From the DVR recorder in our homes we use to record shows like Desperate Housewives and Top Gear, to the iPad that sits on our lap at the dinner table, we’re all connected in one way or the other.  At the dealership, we love new technology.  So, according to J.D. Power and Associates, these are the top 10 technologies car buyers’ need:

1.    Run-flat tires – these tires protect you from a flat by providing an additional 50 miles at 50 mph to get to a gas station after your tire pops.

2.    Navigation Systems – an in-dash navigation system is a great tool for finding your away around.  Use this to find local restaurants, navigate a new city, and in some cases, avoid traffic.

3.    Premium Surround Sound System – everyone can appreciate a great sound system.  How else can you listen to Michael Jackson’s Thriller at full blast?

4.    Back-up Assist – SUVs are especially avid at including these.  Back-up assist acts as a rear-view camera that boosts your visibility when backing up.  Great for avoiding objects like bicycles and other vehicles.

5.    Heated/Cooled Seats – These seats have small “pinholes” that emit cool (or hot) air to flow from a fan or air condition unit embedded in the seats.

6.    Keyless Entry System – Keyless entry is easy because the small keyless sensor stays in your pocket or purse, allowing you to start your car remotely.  By being in close proximity you can unlock dorrs and push a button on the dash to start your engine. 

These are just a few of the tech that people need to have, for the full list visit http://www.latimes.com/classified/automotive/highway1/la-hy-tech.pg,0,5168532.photogallery